Xavier Musketeers men's soccer

Xavier Musketeers men's soccer
Founded1974; 50 years ago (1974)
UniversityXavier University
Head coachJohn Higgins (2022 season)
ConferenceBig East
LocationNorwood, Ohio
StadiumCorcoran Field
(Capacity: 1,600)
NicknameMusketeers, The X
ColorsNavy blue, white, and gray[1]
     
Home
Away
NCAA Tournament Round of 16
2014
NCAA Tournament appearances
2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2023
Conference Tournament championships
2010, 2011, 2023

The Xavier Musketeers men's soccer team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of Xavier University. The team is a member of the Big East Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

History

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Xavier University is a Jesuit university established in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1831. In March 1974, it was announced that a varsity soccer program would be formed at Xavier, and tryouts were held.[2] Coached by Bob McKinney, the team played their first ever regular season match on September 21, 1974 at Corcoran Field, defeating the visiting Thomas More Rebels 3–2. They finished their inaugural fall season with a 5–7–0 record.

In 1975, the team brought in its first ever class of recruits, with McKinney scouting several players from nearby high school teams.[3] They finished the 1975 season with an 8–5–0 record. However, after finishing 1976 with a 3–4–3 record, Bob McKinney resigned as head coach.[4]

In March 1977, Xavier hired John Capurro as their new head coach. John Capurro had previously assisted his brother, Nick Capurro, in coaching the Cincinnati Comets, a short-lived professional team which had folded in 1975.[5]

Vince Pecoraro took Capurro's place as head coach ahead of the 1986 season.[6]

Until 1987, the Xavier men's soccer team had not been a part of any athletic conference. Xavier University had been a founding member of the Midwestern Collegiate Conference (MCC) since 1979, but the conference did not originally sponsor men's soccer. Xavier was one of six universities to play in the MCC's inaugural men's soccer season in 1987.[7]

In 1991, Jack Hermans replaced Pecoraro as Xavier's new head coach.[6]

In 1995, Xavier left the MCC and joined the Atlantic 10 Conference.[8]

Justin Marshall, Nick Hagglund, and James Queree representing Xavier in the 2012 Atlantic 10 Tournament semifinals

In 2005, Dave Schureck replaced Hermans as Xavier's head coach.[6]

In 2010, Andy Fleming replaced Schureck as head coach.[6] That year, Xavier finished with a 10–6–4 record and went on to win the Atlantic 10 Championship playoffs. This earned them an automatic bid in the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament, the first NCAA tournament appearance in the team's history.[9] They lost to West Virginia with a score of 4–2 in the first round.[10]

In 2013, Xavier left the Atlantic 10 to join the Big East Conference.[8]

John Higgins followed Andy Fleming as the head coach of the Musketeers in March 2022. Shaun Mahoney and Ian Vickers joined Coach Higgins as associate head coach and assistant coach, respectively, in May 2022.[11]

Coaching staff

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Position Name
Head coach John Higgins
Associate head coach Shaun Mahoney
Assistant coach Ian Vicars
Director of operations Noel Orozco
Director of goalkeeping Alex Kamphaus

Record by year

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As of February 9, 2020[6][8][12]
Year Coach Conference Wins Losses Draws
1974 Bob McKinney None 5 7 0
1975 8 5 0
1976 3 4 3
1977 John Capurro 4 8 1
1978 7 7 3
1979 11 4 0
1980 9 6 5
1981 5 9 2
1982 8 8 2
1983 7 5 2
1984 4 8 2
1985 4 9 0
1986 Vince Pecoraro 8 7 2
1987 Midwestern Collegiate 8 12 2
1988 11 6 2
1989 6 13 4
1990 5 15 1
1991 Jack Hermans 6 11 4
1992 8 8 4
1993 5 14 1
1994 12 8 0
1995 Atlantic 10 8 10 2
1996 7 11 0
1997 10 10 1
1998 11 9 0
1999 5 13 1
2000 4 14 0
2001 7 11 1
2002 10 7 2
2003 4 16 0
2004 5 12 2
2005 Dave Schureck 4 10 5
2006 7 10 2
2007 8 10 1
2008 3 12 4
2009 2 13 1
2010 Andy Fleming 10 7 4
2011 12 5 4
2012 14 3 5
2013 Big East 10 7 2
2014 15 6 2
2015 12 6 1
2016 8 8 3
2017 11 6 3
2018 6 7 6
2019 8 8 1
2020 0 0 0

Notable alumni

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Luke Spencer was the first Xavier player to be drafted; he was picked 23rd in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft by the New England Revolution.[13]
Name Position Years at Xavier
Craig Blazer GK 1987–1991
Cory Brown DF 2014–2017
Jalen Brown FW/MF 2013–2016
Nick Hagglund DF 2010–2013
Garrett Halfhill DF 2011–2014
Dallas Jaye GK 2015
Chris Korb DF 2006
Matt Nance DF 2014–2018
Eric Osswald GK 2013–2014
Todd Pratzner DF 2013–2016
Sammy Sergi FW 2015–2019
Luke Spencer FW 2009–2012
Matt Walker MF 2010–2013

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Xavier University: Brand and Graphic Identity Guide (PDF). Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  2. ^ "Soccer Program Set For Xavier" (PDF). Xavier News. Vol. 59, no. 19. Cincinnati, Ohio: Xavier University. March 20, 1974. p. 1. Retrieved February 10, 2020 – via Xavier University Library.
  3. ^ Usher, Tom (March 20, 1975). "Spring soccer will push individual skills" (PDF). Xavier News. Vol. 60, no. 18. Cincinnati, Ohio: Xavier University. p. 5. Retrieved February 10, 2020 – via Xavier University Library.
  4. ^ Rosenthal, Roger (May 19, 1977). "Sports year winds down" (PDF). Xavier News. Vol. 62, no. 24. Cincinnati, Ohio: Xavier University. p. 4. Retrieved February 10, 2020 – via Xavier University Library.
  5. ^ "Sports" (PDF). Xavier News. Vol. 62, no. 15. Cincinnati, Ohio: Xavier University. March 10, 1977. p. 4. Retrieved February 10, 2020 – via Xavier University Library.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Men's Soccer: Results By Year". Xavier University Athletics. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  7. ^ "2019-20 Men's Soccer Record Book" (PDF). Horizon League. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  8. ^ a b c "Men's Soccer: Awards and Honors". Xavier University Athletics. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  9. ^ "Xavier Will Face West Virginia In First Round Of NCAA". Xavier University Athletics. Cincinnati, Ohio. November 15, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  10. ^ "WVU men's soccer advances in NCAA tourney". Times West Virginian. November 19, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
  11. ^ "John Higgins Named Xavier Men's Soccer Head Coach". Xavier University Athletics. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  12. ^ "Men's Soccer: Records by Year". Xavier University Athletics. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  13. ^ "Spencer Selected By New England Revolution In MLS SuperDraft". Xavier University Athletics. Xavier University. January 17, 2013. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
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